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Impaired Waters of Chester County
Of the 2,348 miles of streams in Chester County, PADEP periodically assesses 1,394 stream miles using an USEPA-approved assessment methodology to determine if a stream is meeting water quality standards. In the 2018 report, PADEP listed 957 miles of streams in Chester County as impaired, which means they do not meet water quality standards. The list of impaired streams, as well as the list of streams assessed that met the water quality standards, are found in the "2018 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report."
Common impairments in Chester County include "siltation due to urban runoff/storm sewers” and "nutrients due to agriculture." In total, there are over two dozen unique impairment categories listed in Chester County. Stream can be listed by PADEP as impaired for two or more reasons if there are multiple impacts that result in the stream not attaining their designated use.
Common impairments in Chester County include "siltation due to urban runoff/storm sewers” and "nutrients due to agriculture." In total, there are over two dozen unique impairment categories listed in Chester County. Stream can be listed by PADEP as impaired for two or more reasons if there are multiple impacts that result in the stream not attaining their designated use.
Summary by Major Basins
- Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River Tributaries: 93% of their stream miles are impaired,
- Christina River Basin: 55% impaired
- Delaware River Tributaries: 100% impaired
- Schuylkill River Tributaries: 66% impaired
Resources for 2018 Impaired Waters
To improve the waters of Chester County, it is essential to understand which streams are impaired and the cause of that impairment. To assist with this, several resources are available here:
- CCWRA Interactive Map Gallery (interactive online maps)
The above link directs to a series of interactive maps that contain a variety of information about the County's water resources. Included in these online maps are information on the impairments that are listed by PADEP for the waters in Chester County. The "Water Resources of Chester County Tabbed Viewer" and the "2018 Impaired Waters View by "Cause" Web Map" are the two good tools to start with, although most of the other tools also allow the user to view impaired waters information.
- Chester County Impaired Waters Map (Impairments as of 2018 PADEP Report) (11x17 .pdf map)
This map of Chester County Impaired Waters illustrates data provided by PADEP in conjunction with the 2018 report, "2018 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report", which can be found at the PADEP website.
- Chester County 2018 Impaired Waters Map series [2018 data] (11x17 .pdf maps)
This series of pdf maps begins with an overview map of all Chester County streams impacted by all causes of impairments, and includes 14 additional maps showing the locations of streams by each different cause of impairment, as well as other related maps.
- Table of 2018 Chester County Impairments by Watershed
This table provides a summary by watershed of impaired waters in Chester County per the PADEP 2018 report, "2018 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report", which can be found at the PADEP website.
- Overview of 2018 Chester County Impairments and changes from 2016
This 2-page .pdf file provides an overview for Chester County of PADEP's 2018 Integrated Water Quality Report and the changes from the 2016 report.
- PADEP Web Site
Visit the PADEP web site to view the "2018 Pennsylvania Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report" and the 2018 Integrated Report Viewer.
GIS Coverages
- CCWRA GIS Files - Directory
GIS shapefiles are posted in the CCWRA GIS Files - Directory for 2018, 2016 and 2014 Integrated List (Impaired Streams); Urbanized Areas; and Christina River Basin TMDL subbasins and stream impairments used to develop the TMDLs. - PASDA GIS Coverage of PADEP Integrated List - Non-Attaining (link to PASDA)
(without Chester County specific breakdowns) - PASDA GIS Coverage of PADEP Integrated List - Attaining (link to PASDA)
(without Chester County specific breakdowns)
Additional Maps and Tables
- Overview of PADEP "2016 Integrated List of All Waters"
This overview provides an explanation of PADEP's Integrated List and describes listing categories. A separate file provides the definitions of the sources and causes of impairments.
- 2016 Impaired Waters Map Series - Archived
- 2014 Impaired Waters Map Series - Archived
- 2012 Impaired Waters Map Series - Archived
- 2010 Impaired Waters Map Series - Archived
- 2010 Changes to Attaining and Impaired Streams - Chester County, PA
- Map of Watersheds of Chester County
(pdf for printing at 8.5x11 inches) - 2010 Chester County Stream Miles and Impairments by Watershed
This table lists the total number of stream miles within each watershed in Chester County and how many stream miles were designated as impaired by PADEP in 2010. Watershed statistics are also aggregated by major drainage basin.